WEBB, Sidney (1859—). An English author
and barrister, born in London. He was educated
in Switzerland, Germany, and at the City of
London College. In 1878 he entered the English
civil service, where he was employed in many
capacities. He was called to the bar in 1885.
He became a lecturer in the London School of
Economics and Political Science and a member of
the senate and the economic faculty of London
University. His publications include: Socialism inEngland (1890); The London Programme (1891);
The Eight Hours Day (1891), which he wrote in
conjunction with Harold Cox; and Labor in theLongest Reign (1897). More important,
however, are The History of Trade Unionism (1894),
and Industrial Democracy (1897), written in
collaboration with his wife. The History, which
is based upon an extensive survey of original
trade union records, is the most complete work
extant on the progress of English labor organizations.
Industrial Democracy aims to show the
structure and spirit of the contemporary trade
union world. His wife, Beatrice Potter Webb,
became known for her minute knowledge of working
class life obtained from a careful study of
social conditions in Lancashire and East London,
where she assisted Charles Booth in his great
investigation of The Labor and Life of the People.
In 1888 she gave her experiences in sweating dens
to the House of Lords' Committee on Sweating.
Besides collaborating with her husband, she
published The Coöperative Movement in GreatBritain (1891).